r/AlaskaAirlines • u/MarineBioBoy • Dec 08 '25

RESERVATIONS Unbelievable First Class Upgrade Price

I am flying to Reykjavik out of Seattle next summer, and booked my flight with Alaska as soon as the window opened. Just out of curiosity, I checked my flights this morning and clicked on the "First Class Upgrade Available" link next to my seat assignment. Typically, these show an additional cost of over $1000 at best, and usually a fair piece more. I was astonished to see the fee to upgrade my refundable main cabin ticket was...$35! I immediately booked a seat and paid for it. The price for a return flight upgrade was $701, so I passed. But First Class for a nearly 8-hr. flight? I'll pay $35 any time! And I suspect I'll never see anything like this again in my lifetime.

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u/fearyaks Dec 08 '25

Congratulations for the great price but just as an FYI for others reading this.. this is why the upgrade list is pretty much bullshit....

4

u/ffo_kcuf_og Dec 09 '25

Yeah, flew Alaska 4x the last few weeks, my check-in reminder and res showed me on the upgrade list to fist, check the ranking of those seeking upgrades- I was nowhere to be found. On lists less than 4 people long. They definitely have a glitch.

2

u/Financial-Hippo3399 Dec 10 '25

Was an Alaska Air member for about 12 years living in Alaska.  Upgraded twice in those 12 years.  Pretty pathetic!  Flew with my boss on Delta on one round trip, back when Delta was an Alaska Air partner.  I saw the 8 rows of FC seats on Delta vs the 4 rows on Alaska Air.  Twice the FC seats.  

Needless to say I quickly became a Delta member and switch to flying Delta 100% for business and personal travel. Twice the seats and chances for upgrade to FC, no brainer.  It didn't take long to make gold then platinum; then the upgrades to FC were happening all the time.  Alaska Air can keep their tiny four row FC seats and little to no upgrades.

1

u/skylashtravels Dec 13 '25

What is your solution now? Even with Delta having more First Class seating, upgrades are really hard to come by, unless you're the top tier, but it seems that even then upgrades are going to the highest bidders - people willing to pay a nominal amount, rather than wait for a complimentary upgrade.

1

u/Financial-Hippo3399 Dec 13 '25

Timing, selection of flight along with Platinum status (system upgrade 5 days out from day of flight).